Charles Léo Lesquereux (November 18, 1806 – October 25, 1889) was a Swiss-born bryologist and a pioneer of American paleobotany who studied the formation of peat bogs.
Lesquereux was born in the town of Fleurier, located in the canton of Neuchâtel. Despite the fact Lesquereux lacked formal training in botany, he became a celebrated and much published figure in the field of paleobotany. Until 1827 he took classes at the academy at Neuchâtel, and subsequently worked as a tutor of French language in Eisenach, Germany(at the time Prussia). There he tutored many higher-class individuals, including some children of royalty. Afterwards he returned to Switzerland as a schoolteacher, and later principal at the College of La Chaux-de-Fonds. In 1833 he suffered a total loss of hearing due illness and a fall from a cliff. He attempted to obtained treatment from a noted French otologistJean-Marc Gaspard Itard but was treated disrespectfully and given painful injections of fluid although he was fortunate not to receive some of Itard's other experimental treatments that included like electric shocks, puncturing the eardrum or fracturing the skull with a hammer supposedly to drain fluids. After recovering, he met made many excursions in order to collect mosses in the Jura Mountains, eventually leading to investigations of peat bogs.[1] His pioneer research and analysis on the origin, composition and development of peat resulted in a close friendship with famed scientist Louis Agassiz (1807–1873). Soon afterwards, Lesquereux was commissioned by the Prussian government to perform scientific studies of peat bogs throughout Europe.
In 1848 Lesquereux followed Agassiz to the United States, subsequently residing in Columbus, Ohio, where he performed bryological research with William Starling Sullivant (1803–1873). He published a two volume work on the mosses Icones Muscorum (1864). With Sullivant, he published two editions of an exsiccata treatise called Musci Boreali-Americani Quorum Specimina Exsiccata (1856, 1865). Lesquereux could read lips in three different languages but his English pronunciation was imperfect as he learned the language after turning deaf. He became the first elected member of the National Academy of Sciences.[1]
Based on his past studies of European peat bogs, Lesquereux developed theories on the origin of coal formations. As a consultant for state geological surveys in several U.S. states, he performed pioneer investigations of Paleozoic flora. From these paleobotanical studies, his best work was a study of carboniferous flora of Pennsylvania, titled "Atlas to the Coal Flora of Pennsylvania and the Carboniferous Formation throughout the United States" (1879–84), a three-volume publication that became a standard for U.S. carboniferous flora.
^ abLang, Harry G.; Santiago-Blay, Jorge A. (2012). "Contributions of deaf people to entomology: A hidden legacy". Terrestrial Arthropod Reviews. 5 (3–4): 223–268. doi:10.1163/18749836-05031052. ISSN 1874-9828.
^"APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
Tritt, Donald G., "Leo Lesquereux, the Arduous Path of a Nineteenth Century Natural Scientist," pp. 1–122 in Leo Lesquereux, Letters Written From America, 1849-1853. Rockland, Maine: Picton Press, 2006. (465 pp.) ISBN0897258037
Further readingedit
Clément-Grandcourt, Michel, Leo Lesqueruex (1806–1889). De Fleurie à Columbus (Ohio). Ré biographique après sa correspondence avec Fritz Brethoud. Neuchâtel: Alphil, 2013. (336 pp.)
Brunko-Méautis, Ariane, Une vie de passions Leo Lesquereux (1806–1889). Itinéraire d'un naturaliste neuchâtelois. Neuchâtel: Alphil, 2014. (422 pp.)
External linksedit
Wikisource has original works by or about: Leo Lesquereux
National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoir
December 15, 2023
lesquereux, charles, léo, lesquereux, november, 1806, october, 1889, swiss, born, bryologist, pioneer, american, paleobotany, studied, formation, peat, bogs, lesquereux, 1864, contents, career, notes, references, further, reading, external, linkscareer, editle. Charles Leo Lesquereux November 18 1806 October 25 1889 was a Swiss born bryologist and a pioneer of American paleobotany who studied the formation of peat bogs Lesquereux in 1864 Contents 1 Career 2 Notes 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksCareer editLesquereux was born in the town of Fleurier located in the canton of Neuchatel Despite the fact Lesquereux lacked formal training in botany he became a celebrated and much published figure in the field of paleobotany Until 1827 he took classes at the academy at Neuchatel and subsequently worked as a tutor of French language in Eisenach Germany at the time Prussia There he tutored many higher class individuals including some children of royalty Afterwards he returned to Switzerland as a schoolteacher and later principal at the College of La Chaux de Fonds In 1833 he suffered a total loss of hearing due illness and a fall from a cliff He attempted to obtained treatment from a noted French otologist Jean Marc Gaspard Itard but was treated disrespectfully and given painful injections of fluid although he was fortunate not to receive some of Itard s other experimental treatments that included like electric shocks puncturing the eardrum or fracturing the skull with a hammer supposedly to drain fluids After recovering he met made many excursions in order to collect mosses in the Jura Mountains eventually leading to investigations of peat bogs 1 His pioneer research and analysis on the origin composition and development of peat resulted in a close friendship with famed scientist Louis Agassiz 1807 1873 Soon afterwards Lesquereux was commissioned by the Prussian government to perform scientific studies of peat bogs throughout Europe In 1848 Lesquereux followed Agassiz to the United States subsequently residing in Columbus Ohio where he performed bryological research with William Starling Sullivant 1803 1873 He published a two volume work on the mosses Icones Muscorum 1864 With Sullivant he published two editions of an exsiccata treatise called Musci Boreali Americani Quorum Specimina Exsiccata 1856 1865 Lesquereux could read lips in three different languages but his English pronunciation was imperfect as he learned the language after turning deaf He became the first elected member of the National Academy of Sciences 1 Based on his past studies of European peat bogs Lesquereux developed theories on the origin of coal formations As a consultant for state geological surveys in several U S states he performed pioneer investigations of Paleozoic flora From these paleobotanical studies his best work was a study of carboniferous flora of Pennsylvania titled Atlas to the Coal Flora of Pennsylvania and the Carboniferous Formation throughout the United States 1879 84 a three volume publication that became a standard for U S carboniferous flora Lesquereux was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1861 2 The plant genus Lesquerella from the family Brassicaceae and the testate amoeba genus Lesquereusia are named in his honor Lesquereux died at the age of 82 on October 25 1889 in Columbus Ohio and buried in Green Lawn Cemetery The standard author abbreviation Lesq is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name 3 Notes edit a b Lang Harry G Santiago Blay Jorge A 2012 Contributions of deaf people to entomology A hidden legacy Terrestrial Arthropod Reviews 5 3 4 223 268 doi 10 1163 18749836 05031052 ISSN 1874 9828 APS Member History search amphilsoc org Retrieved 2021 01 21 International Plant Names Index Lesq References edit Leo Lesquereux Autobiography Date 1864 1886 American Philosophical Society a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Humphrey Harry Baker 1961 Makers of North American Botany New York Ronald Press Company pp 141 144 Lesley J P 1890 Memoir of Leo Lesquereux 1806 1889 PDF Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences 187 212 Schmidt Andy 2003 Leo Lesquereux Earth Science Department Emporia State University Smith Annie Morrill 1909 Leo Lesquereux 1806 1889 The Bryologist 12 5 75 78 doi 10 1639 0007 2745 1909 12 75 ll 2 0 co 2 JSTOR 3238229 Tritt Donald G Leo Lesquereux the Arduous Path of a Nineteenth Century Natural Scientist pp 1 122 in Leo Lesquereux Letters Written From America 1849 1853 Rockland Maine Picton Press 2006 465 pp ISBN 0897258037Further reading editClement Grandcourt Michel Leo Lesqueruex 1806 1889 De Fleurie a Columbus Ohio Re biographique apres sa correspondence avec Fritz Brethoud Neuchatel Alphil 2013 336 pp Brunko Meautis Ariane Une vie de passions Leo Lesquereux 1806 1889 Itineraire d un naturaliste neuchatelois Neuchatel Alphil 2014 422 pp External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Leo Lesquereux National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoir Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leo Lesquereux amp oldid 1155952460, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
